Hoyer Statement on Passage of the USA Freedom Act

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement on H.R. 3361, the USA Freedom Act, which passed the House today:

“The USA Freedom Act that passed the House today takes significant steps to address concerns over the intelligence community’s information-gathering programs. Not only does it end bulk data collection as we know it, but it establishes new safeguards that strike an appropriate balance between the need for national security and our citizens’ privacy expectations.

“Congress has a responsibility to ensure that the Administration can protect our national security by staying ahead of threats to our country, to Americans overseas, and to our allies, and this bill will help make certain that it has the tools required to do so. At the same time, though, we also must protect the basic rights and freedoms that make our country a beacon of liberty and democracy throughout the world. I believe that this bill achieves this critical goal. Moving forward, I hope that Democrats and Republicans can continue to work together to strike the proper balance between security and privacy that remains one of the defining challenges of our time.”